Whatever is happening in Nausori Town is certainly bothering some people.
In fact it is a major issue that demands urgent attention as far as they are concerned.
They speak of drug pushers, prostitution and glue sniffers turning Nausori into a crime-filled little town.
Obviously fed up, they called The Fiji Times the other day, urging us to go over and witness what they claim are daily occurrences. They pointed out what looked like drug sales done in broad daylight on the main street of the town.
They claim their own customers are being harassed, punched and bullied. They spoke of youths smoking marijuana openly in the town.
Interestingly on the day we highlighted rampant and blatant drug dealings in Nausori Town, our team captured images of unfazed youths smoking something from two empty soft drink bottles in broad daylight at Syria Park.
They weren’t distracted, or concerned about the movement of traffic and people nearby.
Yesterday, police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro maintained they had no report of concerns raised by some members of the business community.
She, however, said senior police officers met with the Nausori Town Council yesterday and will meet the Nausori Chamber of Commerce today to discuss the drug, prostitution and glue-sniffing crisis.
Some businessmen and residents in Nausori believe that unless the issue was urgently addressed, the town would be overrun with criminal activity. This, they insisted, could negatively impact children.
The turn of events in Nausori has forced a resident to urge the Fiji Police Force to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras around the town area, to identify drug dealers and stamp out the trade in illicit substances.
The 59-year-old man who spoke on the condition of anonymity said he was very concerned about the level of daylight drug dealing that was being carried out in the town. He claimed police presence in Nausori Town was almost invisible.
What is a concern is the carefree attitude of those accused of being engaged in illegal activities. There appears to be a disregard for caution, and a boldness that is frightening. We hope this is not a reflection of a bigger problem.
If there is something that isn’t right in this township, then the police force must be assertive.
With drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine already in Fiji, there should be no qualms about the need for the police to be seen to be in control of the streets of Nausori.
